Azalea plant named &#39;mniocm&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Azalea plant found as a seedling in a planned cross between the female Azalea ‘Cherie’ (syn. V12-4) and the male Azalea ‘Indian Summer’ is disclosed. The new variety has a unique blooming period and is extremely cold hardy. It is a compact, dense, and upright growing plant with attractive, coral pink, hose-in-hose flowers.

GENUS/SPECIES

Rhododendron sp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of evergreen Azalea of the genus Rhododendron. This new Azalea, hereinafter referred to as ‘MNIOCM’, was discovered in August 1981 in Lawrenceville, Ga. ‘MNIOCM’ originated from a planned hybridization between female Azalea ‘Cherie’ (syn. V12-4) (unpatented) and male Azalea ‘Indian Summer’ (unpatented) in Lawrenceville, Ga. The value of this new cultivar lies in its unique blooming period, growth habit, and cold hardiness.

Asexual propagation of the new plant by cuttings was performed at the Center for Applied Nursery Research in Dearing, Ga. The new plant retains its distinctive characteristics and reproduces true to type in successive generations by vegetative propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Dearing, Ga.

-   -   1. Unique spring and fall blooming;     -   2. Large, single, hose-in-hose flowers;     -   3. Easily propagated by semi-hardwood cuttings in late spring         through summer;     -   4. Fast growth rate under normal fertilization and moisture         conditions;     -   5. Upright, dense, and compact nature;     -   6. Attractive, showy flower;     -   7. Grows well in containers;     -   8. Thrives in shade or sun; and     -   9. Hardy in USDA Zone 5b.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Azalea hybrid variety is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show blooms and foliage of the plant in full bloom. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic means.

FIG. 1. shows stems and mature foliage.

FIG. 2. shows mature foliage and growth habit of a seven gallon plant.

FIG. 3. shows a close-up view of a mature inflorescence.

FIG. 4. shows the plant in full bloom.

FIG. 5. shows the re-blooming characteristic of the plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new variety of Azalea based on observations made of a 3-year-old plant grown in a seven-gallon container according to wholesale commercial production conditions in Dearing, Ga. The colors of the various plant parts are detailed with reference to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Ericaceae.         -   Species.—Rhododendron sp.         -   Common Name.—Azalea.         -   Commercial Name.—‘MNIOCM’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Gartrell hybrid Azalea ‘Cherie’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Gable hybrid Azalea ‘Indian Summer’             (unpatented). -   Growth:     -   -   Form.—Compact, dense and upright.         -   Height.—2½-3 feet.         -   Width.—3-3½ feet.         -   Growth habit.—Upright, dense and compact.         -   Growth rate.—Fast growth rate under normal fertilization and             moisture conditions. In a period of six years from a rooted             cutting, the plant reaches a height of 2 feet and a spread             of 2½ feet. The growth rate is normally about 4 to 6 inches             per year; the plant reaches a height of 2½ to 3 feet at             maturity while maintaining a dense habit.         -   Spring growth.—In 2004, the date of initial spring growth             was March 16, in Dearing, Ga. After the initial spring             flush, there was continuous growth through the fall. The             average length of terminal growth of the initial spring             flush is about 3 inches for a plant in full sun and about 2¾             inches when grown in shade. This growth, if not pruned, will             begin to produce flowers starting in April. As the plant             continues to grow through summer and fall, more flower buds             are produced which mature and bloom until frost. ‘MNIOCM’             bloomed heavily until frost in December, 2003. The remaining             growth produces about 2 to 4 inches of new growth.         -   Life cycle.—Perennial and evergreen. -   Leaves:     -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate, simple, evergreen.         -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.         -   Leaf length.—⅞ to 1¼ inches.         -   Leaf width.—⅜ inch.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire.         -   Leaf base.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute to mucronate.         -   Petiole length.—⅛ inch.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 146D (yellow-green).         -   Mature leaf.—Upper leaf surface: Surface texture:             Semi-glossy Surface color: RHS 139A (green) Surface             pubescence: Strigose Surface pubescence color: RHS 155C             (white) Midveins and laterals: Impressed on surface Lower             leaf surface: Surface texture: Matte Surface color: RHS 146A             (yellow-green) Surface pubescence: Strigose Surface             pubescence color: RHS 164B (greyed-orange) Midveins and             laterals: Prominent on surface.         -   Immature leaf.—Upper leaf surface: Surface texture: Dull             Surface color: RHS 144A (yellow-green) Surface pubescence:             Strigose Surface pubescence color: RHS 155C (white);             changing to RHS 164B (greyed-orange) as the leaf matures             Lower leaf surface: Surface texture: Matte Surface color:             RHS 146B (yellow-green) Surface pubescence: Strigose Surface             pubescence color: RHS 155C (white) Immature petioles and             midveins: Petiole color: RHS 144A (yellow-green) Midvein             color: RHS 144A (yellow-green) Petiole pubescence: Strigose             Petiole pubescence color: RHS 155C (white) New growth             pubescence: Strigose Length of pubescence: 1/32 to 1/16             inch; numerous on mid-vein and petiole, more so as the leaf             matures Color of new growth pubescence: RHS 155C (white),             maturing to RHS 167C (greyed-orange) throughout the growing             season. -   Stems:     -   -   Form.—Densely branched.         -   Young stems.—Stem color: RHS 146D (yellow-green) Stem             pubescence: Strigose Stem pubescence color: at point of             attachment individual hairs emerge RHS155C (white) and             mature to RHS 164A (greyed-orange); hairs distal from stem             are RHS 164B (greyed-orange) Stem length: 3 to 6 inches Stem             diameter: 3/32 to ⅛ inch.         -   Second-year stems.—Stem color: RHS N200A (brown) Stem             pubescence: Glabrous and rugose Stem length: 3 to 6 inches             Stem diameter: 3/16 inch.         -   Pith.—Solid and uniform.         -   Internode length.—⅛ inch to 1 inch; grown in both full sun             and light shade. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Buds.—Tight; borne in groups of two or three sheathed by a             pair of modified leaf bracts.         -   Bud shape.—Ovate and acuminate.         -   Bud size.—½×¼ inch.         -   Bud scales.—Distal portion pubescent, individual hairs             emerge RHS 155C (white) and mature to RHS N167C             (greyed-orange).         -   Bud color.—RHS 144B (yellow-green) and RHS 145D             (yellow-green).         -   Bud sheath.—Bud sheath size: 7/16 to 17/32 inch, persistent             Immature sheath color: RHS 139A (green) Mature: As the buds             swell, the bud sheath matures to RHS 145C (yellow-green),             and RHS 45A (red), falls off and reveals the flower color of             RHS 47A (red).         -   Bud pedicel.—Pedicel length: 3/16 inch long Pedicel color:             RHS 144A (yellow-green) Pedicel pubescence: Villous Pedicel             pubescence color: RHS 164D (greyed-orange).         -   Calyx.—Calyx shape: Cup-shaped, 5 imbricated sepals,             persistent Size: ¼ to 7/16 inch long Color: RHS 144A             (yellow-green) Pubescence: Villous Color of pubescence: RHS             155C (white). -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower type.—Perfect, hose-in-hose.         -   Flowering habit.—Borne on the current season's growth.         -   Lastingness of flowers on the plant.—4-6 days in the sun;             10-12 days in the shade.         -   Length of flowering period.—3 to 4 weeks in April in             Dearing, Ga.; flowering resumes in September and continues             until frost which can be as late as November or December.         -   Peduncle length.—⅛ to ¼ inch.         -   Peduncle diameter.—⅛ inch.         -   Flower Shape.—Open funnel-shaped.         -   Flower diameter.—3 inches by 2 inches.         -   Flower depth.—1½ inches.         -   Petal number.—5, fused at the base and remain fused up to 1             inch from the base.         -   Petal pubescence.—Glabrous.         -   Petal shape.—Elliptic to obovate with rounded apices and             entire margins.         -   Petal size.—1½ inches long by 1 inch wide.         -   Petal color.—Upper and lower surfaces: RHS 53C (red) Spots             on upper surfaces of 3 of the five petals: RHS 53A (red).         -   Sepals.—Ovate to lanceolate.         -   Sepal number.—5.         -   Sepal color.—RHS 145A (yellow-green).         -   Sepal size.—⅛ inch long×⅛ inch wide. -   Reproductive parts:     -   -   Ovary.—Tomentose.         -   Placenta arrangement.—5 locules.         -   Pistil.—Single, non-petaloid.         -   Pistil length.—1¼ to 1½ inches long.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 58A (red-purple).         -   Style color.—RHS 58B (red-purple).         -   Stamen number.—5, non-petaloid.         -   Stamen length.—1 5/16 to 1 9/16 inches.         -   Stamen color.—Filaments: RHS N57A (red-purple) Anthers: RHS             176A (greyed-orange).         -   Pollen color.—RHS 155D (white).         -   Fragrance.—None.

Culture

‘MNIOCM’ grows well in a wide range of conditions and tolerates sun to shade. It prefers moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter and responds well to mulching and medium applications of fertilizer. It does best in soil with a pH of 5.0 to 5.5. It is propagated with semi-hardwood cuttings in late spring through the summer.

Diseases/Insects

Lace bugs and spider mites can be a problem.

Comparison with Parental Cultivars

The female, or seed parent, of ‘MNIOCM’ is the Gartrell hybrid Azalea ‘Cherie’ (syn. V12-4) (unpatented) which has orange-red, double flowers and is a late blooming azalea. ‘Cherie’ is the result of a cross between ‘Jimmy Coover’ (unpatented)×‘Glamour’ (unpatented) and the pink blooming Robin Hill hybrid ‘Lady Louise’ (unpatented).

The male, or pollen, parent is the Gable hybrid ‘Indian Summer’ (unpatented) which has yellowish pink flowers and is a fall blooming azalea. ‘Indian Summer’ is a fall blooming clone of R. kaempferi.

In Table 1 below, the instant plant is shown in comparison with the parental cultivars. TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘MNIOCM’ ‘Cherie’ ‘Indian Summer’ Height (Mature) 2½-3 ft. 3-5 ft. 8-10 ft. Width (Mature) 3-3½ ft. Not available Not available Flower Diameter 2-2½ in. 2 in. Not available Flower Form Single/hose-in-hose Double Single/hose-in- hose/semi-double Flower Color Red Deep reddish Yellowish pink orange Flowers per 2-3 Not available Not available Terminal Bloom Period April; September to Not available Fall frost Petal Number 10 Not available Not available Hardy Zone 5 6 5 Stamen Number 5 Not available 5 Stamen Type Non-petaloid Petaloid Non-petaloid 

1. A new variety of Azalea plant named ‘MNIOCM’ as herein shown and described. 